The 1915 Carlisle Mine TragedyThe 1915 Carlisle Mine Tragedy
On the morning of February 6, 1915, life in Carlisle, West Virginia, began as usual. One hundred and seventy-three coal miners gathered at the mouth of the Carlisle Mine in
Category: The Coalfields
Feud and Fury: The Dark Legacy of Bad Tom SmithFeud and Fury: The Dark Legacy of Bad Tom Smith
By request of one of our listeners, this week we tell the story of Bad Tom Smith, a notorious figure at the very heart of the French-Eversole feud in Kentucky.
Bloody Harlan: W. B. Jones and the Battle of EvartsBloody Harlan: W. B. Jones and the Battle of Evarts
In the late 1920s and early 30s, the coal fields of Harlan County, Kentucky, became the backdrop for one of the darkest chapters in labor history. Known as Bloody Harlan,
Remembering the Sago Mine DisasterRemembering the Sago Mine Disaster
On January 2, 2006, a quiet morning turned into tragedy at the Sago Mine in Sago, West Virginia. A powerful explosion trapped 13 miners underground for nearly two days. Of
The 1902 Quarter House BattleThe 1902 Quarter House Battle
Nestled in Mingo Hollow, six miles west of Middlesboro, Kentucky, the Quarter House was no ordinary saloon. Its unique position on the Tennessee state line allowed patrons to evade the
The Himlerville Experiment: Appalachia’s Only Miner-Owned Coal TownThe Himlerville Experiment: Appalachia’s Only Miner-Owned Coal Town
There was once a coal company in Appalachia that was owned not by wealthy investors but by its employees, in a cooperative enterprise. And the houses in the company’s coal
Appalachia’s Mysterious Mountain of Lost SoulsAppalachia’s Mysterious Mountain of Lost Souls
Today, we tell a story about a place that over a century ago was said to have been shrouded in mystery and fear, known for inexplicable and mysterious disappearances. That,
The 1970 Hurricane Creek Mine ExplosionThe 1970 Hurricane Creek Mine Explosion
Today we tell the story of the deadliest mine disaster in Eastern Kentucky history, the explosion in shafts number 15 and 16 at Hurricane Creek near Hyden, Kentucky. The Stories
The West Virginia Mine Wars: The Battle of Blair MountainThe West Virginia Mine Wars: The Battle of Blair Mountain
We have a mid-week extra podcast episode for you, available ONLY on our podcast YouTube channel, Stories of Appalachia Podcast. It’s our story of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the
The 1902 New River Coal Strike -The Battle of StanafordThe 1902 New River Coal Strike -The Battle of Stanaford
In 1902 coal miners struck the mines along the New River, seeking better wages and better working conditions. The strike continued until February 25, 1903, when a massive gun battle